Upper garment

ABSTRACT

An upper garment has a torso section and a pair of sleeves connected to the torso section. The torso section is provided at a lower end with an inner tail section and an outer tail section. The inner tail section can be tucked into a lower garment to maintain core warmth, while the outer tail section hangs freely for a desired fashion appearance.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/872,272, filed Dec. 1, 2006, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a garment, and more particularly to an upper garment such as a jersey, shirt, jacket or windbreaker.

Traditional upper garments have a tail or hem that can either be worn loosely about the hips, or be tucked into the waistband of the user's trousers or pants. When the tail is not tucked into the waistband, body heat escapes through the bottom of the upper garment. Some upper garments, such as jackets and windbreakers, are too bulky or stiff to be conveniently tucked into pants. Others, such as jerseys and shirts, can be tucked under the waistband.

An athlete may prefer to wear the upper garment outside the waistband, to maintain a desired fashion appearance. When that is done, the loss of core heat from the area around the waistband may be particularly dramatic and undesirable during an athletic activity such as cycling.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the invention relates to a method of resisting flow of heat away from an athlete's core during physical exertion. The method includes the steps of providing an upper garment having an inner tail section and an outer tail section; providing a lower garment having a waistband; donning the lower garment and the upper garment; tucking the inner tail section of the upper garment under the waistband of the lower garment during physical exertion to resist flow of heat away from the athlete's core during physical exertion; and providing a desired fashion appearance during the physical exertion by permitting the outer tail section of the upper garment to hang free and unimpeded over the waistband during the physical exertion.

In another aspect, the invention relates to an upper garment comprising a torso section and a pair of sleeves connected to the torso section, the torso section being provided at a lower end with an inner tail section and an outer tail section, the outer tail section being a continuous fabric section free of apertures.

In another aspect, the invention relates to an upper garment comprising a torso section and a pair of sleeves connected to the torso section, the torso section being provided at a lower end with an inner tail section and an outer tail section, the outer tail section being free of belt loop openings.

In yet another aspect, the invention relates to a method of using an upper garment. The method includes the steps of providing an upper garment having an inner tail section and an outer tail section; donning the upper garment; tucking the inner tail section of the upper garment under a waistband of a lower garment; and permitting the outer tail section of the upper garment to hang free and unimpeded over the waistband of the lower garment.

In still another aspect, the invention relates to apparel comprising a lower garment and an upper garment. The lower garment has a waist portion with a waistband, the lower garment waist portion being free of belt loops. The upper garment includes a torso section and a pair of sleeves connected to the torso section, the torso section being provided with an inner tail section and an outer tail section. The inner tail section of the upper garment is received inside the waistband of the lower garment to resist flow of heat out of the torso section of the upper garment. The outer tail section of the upper garment hangs free and unimpeded over the waistband of the lower garment and being free of belt loop openings to provide a desired fashion appearance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains upon reading the following description together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a jersey or shirt type upper garment with a dual tail or hem structure in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the jersey or shirt of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows the garment on a manikin support in perspective view, with an outer tail section down over an inner tail section;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the outer tail section pulled upwardly or raised; and

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view showing the relationship between the upper garment and a lower garment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This invention relates to a garment, and more particularly to an upper garment such as a jersey, shirt, jacket or windbreaker. The invention is applicable to upper garments of various differing constructions. As representative of the invention, FIGS. 1-5 show an upper garment 8 that is one embodiment of the invention.

The upper garment 8 includes a torso section 10 and a pair of sleeves 12 and 14 connected to the torso section. The torso section 10 is provided at a lower end with a dual or bifurcated hem structure 16, including an inner tail section 18 and an outer tail section 20. In the illustrated embodiment, the inner tail section 18 and the outer tail section 20 are attached to one another along a seam 22 at upper peripheries or edges of the inner tail section and the outer tail section. In other embodiments, the tail sections 18 and 20 may be attached otherwise, for example, separately to the torso section 10.

The outer tail section 20 does not have any belt loop openings through which belt loops can extend. The outer tail section 20 may be a continuous fabric section free of apertures or holes throughout. The outer tail section 20 thus extends in a smooth and unbroken band about the waist or upper hip region of the individual user when the garment is in use.

The upper garment 8 in one embodiment is formed from a plurality of fabric sections 28 (FIGS. 1 and 2) stitched to one another along seams 30. Seams 30 are preferably sewn using a seam link stitch, a modified 2-needle over-lock stitch. As another alternative, the torso section of the upper garment may be a tubular preform without panels.

The inner tail section 18 and the outer tail section 20 are provided with hems 25 and 26, respectively. FIG. 3 shows the upper garment 8 with both the inner tail section 18 and the outer tail section 20 down. FIG. 4 shows the upper garment 8 with the outer tail section 20 pulled or rolled up to better show the inner tail section 18.

A lower garment, which may be a pair of pants or shorts, is shown partially at 40 in FIG. 5. The lower garment 40 includes a waist portion 42 having a waistband 44. The lower garment 40 does not have any belt loops; a belt is not used with the lower garment 40.

In use, the upper garment 8 and the lower garment 40 are donned. The inner tail section 18 is tucked under the waistband 44 of the lower garment 40. The wearer allows the outer tail section 20 to hang freely and unimpeded over the waistband 44 and over the waist portion 42 of the lower garment 40. The outer tail section 20 is not cinched down against the waistband 44 of the lower garment 40, thus providing a desired fashion appearance.

Because the inner tail section 18 is tucked into the waistband 44 of the lower garment 40, a partial seal is formed between the wearer's skin and the lower edge of the upper garment 8. This seal can block or minimize heat loss from the wearer's core through the area of the waistband 44. As a result, the wearer can perform better athletically as well as be more comfortable, while maintaining the desired fashion appearance provided by the outer tail section 20 not being tucked in.

Typically an athlete does not wear a belt during an athletic event. Thus, the upper garment 8 of the present invention is preferably worn with a lower garment 40 that does not have belt loops. The outer tail section 20 is designed to be more fashionable both by not having any openings such as belt loop openings for receiving a belt, and by not being cinched down against the waistband 44 of the lower garment 40.

Thus, an upper garment as described herein provides a labyrinthine type seal at the waist for enhanced heat insulation and protection against debris, while simulating the appearance of a conventional shirt or upper garment that is not tucked under the waistband of an associated lower garment but is rather freely hanging about the upper portion of the lower garment.

In the illustrated embodiment, the outer tail section 20 is nearly as long as the inner tail section 18, measured in a direction from the top or a neck 24 to the bottom of torso section 10. In one embodiment, the inner tail section 18 has a length of four-and-a-half inches, in a direction from top to bottom of the torso section 10, while the outer tail section 20 has a length of four inches, in a direction from top to bottom of the torso section. Thus, the outer tail section 20 has a length that is eight-ninths that of the inner tail section 18. While the outer tail section 20 may have an even shorter length, for instance, two-thirds the length of the inner tail section 18, a relatively longer outer tail section is preferred. The outer tail section 20 should preferably have such a length that the torso section 10 approximates in length a conventional single-hem or single-tail upper garment. The inner tail section 18 is slightly longer to facilitate use of the garment 8, for instance, detection and grasping of the inner tail section for tucking under the waistband of a lower garment 40.

It is contemplated that the dual tail or hem structure of an upper garment 8 in accordance with the present invention may be applied in a jersey, a buttoned shirt with a placket, a pullover outerwear such as a windbreaker, or a zipped upper garment such as a jacket or sweatshirt. Where the torso section 10 of the garment 8 has a placket, the inner tail section 18 and the outer tail section 20 are slit in continuity with the placket.

The inner tail section 18 and the outer tail section 20 may be formed in various different ways. One of the two sections 18 and 20 may be an integral portion of torso section 10, with the other one of the two sections 18 and 20 being a separate piece stitched to the torso section 10 at a seam defining the upper edges of the tail sections 18 and 20. In another manufacturing method, the torso section 10 may be formed from a tubular preform having a length equal to the sum of the length of the torso section 10, the length of the inner tail section 18 or the outer tail section 20, and two times the length of the outer tail section or the inner tail section, respectively. In this scheme, the tubular preform is folded twice along endless fold lines to form one tail section 18 or 20 as a two-ply fabric section and the other tail section 18 or 20 as a single ply section.

Although the invention has been described in terms of particular embodiments and applications, one of ordinary skill in the art, in light of this teaching, can generate additional embodiments and modifications without departing from the spirit of or exceeding the scope of the claimed invention. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions herein are proffered by way of example to facilitate comprehension of the invention and should not be construed to limit the scope thereof. 

1. A method of resisting flow of heat away from an athlete's core during physical exertion, comprising the steps of: providing an upper garment having an inner tail section and an outer tail section; providing a lower garment having a waistband; donning the lower garment and the upper garment; tucking the inner tail section of the upper garment under the waistband of the lower garment during physical exertion to resist flow of heat away from the athlete's core during physical exertion; and providing a desired fashion appearance during the physical exertion by permitting the outer tail section of the upper garment to hang free and unimpeded over the waistband during the physical exertion.
 2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of providing a desired fashion appearance includes not cinching the outer tail section down against the waistband.
 3. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of providing an upper garment includes providing an upper garment having an outer tail section that is a continuous fabric section free of apertures.
 4. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of providing an upper garment includes providing an upper garment having an outer tail section that is free of belt loop openings.
 5. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of providing an upper garment includes providing an upper garment having an outer tail section that is free of belt loop openings and the step of providing a desired fashion appearance includes not cinching the outer tail section down against the waistband.
 6. An upper garment comprising a torso section and a pair of sleeves connected to the torso section, the torso section being provided at a lower end with an inner tail section and an outer tail section, the outer tail section being a continuous fabric section free of apertures.
 7. The garment defined in claim 6 wherein the outer tail section is free of belt loop openings.
 8. The garment defined in claim 6 wherein the inner tail section has a first length, in a direction from top to bottom of the torso section, and the outer tail section has a second length, in a direction from top to bottom of the torso section, the second length being at least two-thirds of the first length.
 9. The garment defined in claim 8 wherein the second length is at least eight-ninths of the first length.
 10. The garment defined in claim 9 wherein the second length is at least approximately equal to the first length.
 11. The garment defined in claim 6 wherein the inner tail section and the outer tail section have lengths, in a direction from top to bottom of the torso section, that are approximately equal.
 12. The garment defined in claim 6 wherein the torso section has a placket, the inner tail section and the outer tail sections being slit in continuity with the placket.
 13. An upper garment comprising a torso section and a pair of sleeves connected to the torso section, the torso section being provided at a lower end with an inner tail section and an outer tail section, the outer tail section being free of belt loop openings.
 14. An upper garment as set forth in claim 13 wherein the inner tail section has a first length, in a direction from top to bottom of the torso section, and the outer tail section has a second length, in a direction from top to bottom of the torso section, the second length being at least eight-ninths of the first length.
 15. A method of using an upper garment, comprising the steps of: providing an upper garment having an inner tail section and an outer tail section; donning the upper garment; tucking the inner tail section of the upper garment under a waistband of a lower garment; and permitting the outer tail section of the upper garment to hang free and unimpeded over the waistband of the lower garment.
 16. A method as set forth in claim 15 wherein the providing step includes providing an upper garment having an outer tail section that is free of belt loop openings.
 17. A method as set forth in claim 15 wherein the providing step includes providing an upper garment in which the inner tail section has a first length, in a direction from top to bottom of the torso section, and the outer tail section has a second length, in a direction from top to bottom of the torso section, the second length being at least two-thirds of the first length.
 18. A method as set forth in claim 15 wherein the permitting step includes not cinching the outer tail section down against the waistband.
 19. A method as set forth in claim 18 wherein the providing step includes providing an upper garment having an outer tail section that is free of belt loop openings.
 20. Apparel comprising a lower garment and an upper garment; the lower garment having a waist portion with a waistband, the lower garment waist portion being free of belt loops; the upper garment comprising a torso section and a pair of sleeves connected to the torso section, the torso section being provided with an inner tail section and an outer tail section; the inner tail section of the upper garment being received inside the waistband of the lower garment to resist flow of heat out of the torso section of the upper garment; and the outer tail section of the upper garment hanging free and unimpeded over the waistband of the lower garment and being free of belt loop openings to provide a desired fashion appearance. 